Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Teelo]

Okay so I have one of these cards that I use for Busses and Subway around Seoul.
So far, I've just figured it works the same as the one I had back home, however, recently I've started to notice that sometimes I get charged more than the cash fares when I "tag off" the bus, and sometimes the bus/subway charges me less or nothing at all.

Is there a description somewhere I can read up on how the system here works?

[ChinaBoy]

You're charged the full fare when you get on.

When you swipe out of the subway, it would show 0 if you didn't travel far enough to have to pay extra. Is this what you're seeing?

Also, depending on what bus you're riding, you might not need to swipe when you get off, as that might be a "transfer".

Umm, sorry, I don't know where you can read this.

[Teelo]

[Harpeau]

When you get on a bus, it'll usually charge you about 900 won. When you get off, swipe it. It'll usually tell you what you have left. If you go into a subway, you can usually swipe it and transfer for free. If you travel further than 900 won, it'll charge you a little more and you'll see that when you reach the end. It's something like that. Ask around.

[Xuanzang]

You get seemingly unlimited transfers to buses but somehow the card knows if you turn back the other way. It charged me 900 again when I had to go back since I left something at school. you can see the charges for going to out of the way places on the giant subway map in the station. Usually 100-200 more. It`s also time sensitive as you can get up to half an hour from bus to subway transfer without paying a new fare.

If you dont swipe it when you leave then you`ll pay a new fare and possibly screw up your card (if not swiped too many times).

[kiknkorea]

Yeah you need to make sure it registers it when you get on. Otherwise, you'll be harassed when it doesn't work right when getting off.

[soohak]

These charges (or the lack thereof) are the result of the distance accumulated on your trip and transfers.

When you board a green or blue bus, or the subway you get charged 900원 and you can travel up to 10km. Every 5km after that is an additional 100원, which is charged when you leave the bus.

You can transfer within 30 minutes (60 minutes after 9pm, i think) of swiping out. If you're getting off a bus, you can transfer to a bus with a different number than your last bus, or to the subway. If you're getting off the subway, you can only transfer to a bus next, even if you get back on at a different station. When you swipe in on the transfer you are charged nothing (unless it's a red bus). Distance then continues to accumulate for the trip as above (100원/5km).

The maximum you can be charged for one trip in 1700원 (unless you transfer to a red bus during the trip). That's why it's important that you swipe when you leave the bus, since they'll assume you traveled the maximum possible distance and charge accordingly, if you don't.

The system only keeps track of your last bus, so as long as you don't get on the same number twice in a row, you can transfer all day long. So if you only have to make a quick trip somewhere and back, on the way back you can take a different bus that goes the same way for one stop, and then go back on the same bus you came on.

Red (express) buses work pretty much the same way. The base rate is 1700원 for the first 30km. If you transfer from other non-red buses or the subway, you'll be charged the difference between 1700원 and what you've paid so far (bringing you up the base rate of 1700원). If you ride the red bus with no transfers, you'll never be charged any more. If transfers are involved, you could be charged up to an additional 1700원, according to the 100원/5km fare.

The yellow and 마을 (two digit green buses) are usually 700원 base and work the same as the other two types.

[IncognitoHFX]

If you transfer from a bus onto a subway in under 30 minutes, then it doesn't make you pay the base subway fare... this is useful.

T-Money is a great system. It's one of those things Korea has that Canada/US won't have for five-ten years.

[pkang0202]

Also, there are a couple buses where you don't scan to get off. Specifically, I know but 9501 that goes from Gimpo to Gangnam, you only scan to get on. When you get off the bus and try to scan, it gives you some error message.


I always scan on and off everything but the Red Buses. When I get off the red bus, I always ask the bus driver "Neh lil teh ka duh chi guh dae yo?"

He'll say yes or no.

[ChinaBoy]

[XAdamX]

[IncognitoHFX]

[ChinaBoy]

My hometown bus system uses cards. I guess you're right about the phone, I haven't seen that. Of course my phone doesn't do that here.

[Teelo]

[moosehead]